What was meant to be a joyful retirement celebration turned into a day of mourning in Ilesa, Osun State, as a retired headmistress, Mrs. Bello Dupe Omowumi, slumped and died during her retirement party.
Mrs. Bello, described by colleagues as “a dedicated and tireless educator,” was the last headmistress of the School for the Physically Challenged, Enu Odi, Ilesa.
She had officially retired the previous month and scheduled her retirement party for Wednesday, April 9, 2025, inside the school premises where she last served.
Eyewitnesses said the event began with drummers and guests in high spirits as Mrs. Bello, accompanied by her husband, danced joyfully into the venue in a procession. The mood quickly changed when, shortly after taking her seat at the high table, she began showing signs of physical distress.
“It was not even ten minutes after she sat at the high table that she began to show signs of weakness,” one of the teachers at the event said. “We thought it was exhaustion or stress, but it quickly became clear it was more serious.”
Despite immediate first aid efforts at the venue, her condition worsened, prompting her rushed transfer to the Ijesaland Geriatric Centre. She was later referred to Wesley Guild Hospital, also in Ilesa, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.
Her remains have since been deposited at the morgue as friends, colleagues, and family members were left in disbelief and sorrow.
A guest at the event said, “The hall went from celebration to complete silence. Nobody could say a word. We are still trying to process what happened.”
Mrs. Bello was widely known for her passion for education and commitment to the welfare of students with special needs.
“She was a symbol of patience and discipline. This is such a painful loss,” another colleague shared tearfully.
The event, which was intended to celebrate a life of service, ended in tears as guests left the venue stunned by the tragic and unexpected turn of events.
